"In about four days, our ship will reach Alabasta. Before that, there are a few things I need to tell everyone."
Vivi explained the details about Baroque Works to Luffy and the others gathered on the deck.
Chopper wasn't very clear about Vivi's situation or the Warlords of the Sea, so the others on the ship gave him a simple explanation.
The Warlords of the Sea are pirates recognized by the World Government. They possess immense power that ordinary people cannot resist, capable of defeating pirates one after another, which is why the World Government acknowledges them as individuals who can suppress piracy.
Luffy was eager to encounter Crocodile soon. But according to Vivi, Crocodile is a beloved hero to the people of Alabasta because he helps suppress pirates attacking the kingdom. However, that's just his public facade. In reality, the current civil unrest in Alabasta was secretly instigated by him. His goal is self-evident: to seize control of Alabasta.
Whether it's the people or the king of Alabasta... the fact that he can manipulate an entire nation shows that Crocodile's methods and strategies are far beyond ordinary.
At first, Usopp thought Baroque Works' operational system was very complex, but after Vivi's explanation, he realized it was actually quite simple.
Firstly, the top of the organization is Crocodile, also referred to by members as Mr. 0.
Directly under Crocodile's command are twelve individuals and one animal. Except for Mr. 2, each has a female partner, operating in paired teams.
When it was mentioned that Mr. 3's partner was Miss Goldenweek, Chopper was very surprised, looking at the little girl sitting quietly to the side. "You were a high-ranking officer before?"
"That's why I have no fondness for a criminal organization that even employs child labor. It's utterly disgraceful."
Tom stated very bluntly.
"Stinky fisherman. On this point, I agree with you. Beautiful flowers that haven't yet fully bloomed to show their charm require careful nurturing."
Sanji took a drag from his cigarette and said to Tom.
"I think your yellow-tinged fantasy-filled brain is beyond saving..."
Tom's words immediately made Sanji erupt. "What did you say, stinky fisherman? Do you want to try being stir-fried?"
"Pervert cook, it seems you want me to beat you into salted fish!"
With just a few words, Tom and Sanji were on the verge of fighting again.
"You two, stop messing around! We're discussing important matters!"
Nami promptly stepped in to stop the two who were about to come to blows.
"Yes, Nami-swan! Even if we were in hell, I would listen to you!"
The moment Sanji heard Nami's words, he immediately backed down, his eyes turning into hearts as he spoke to her.
"What an idiot!"
"Moss-head!"
Zoro couldn't stand Sanji's lovestruck antics. Seeing him bowing and scraping before a woman, he spoke very rudely.
Then, instead of Tom fighting Sanji, Sanji and Zoro started going at it. These two usually couldn't stand each other and seized every opportunity to bicker.
"In any case, Mr. 1 to Mr. 5 are the high-ranking officers. And they are all Devil Fruit users."
Nami quickly "one-shot" Zoro and Sanji, who were fighting, shocking Chopper and Usopp speechless. She continued, "Now we have already defeated Mr. 3 and Mr. 5, so only three high-ranking officers remain."
However, Vivi didn't know much about the appearances or abilities of the other three high-ranking officers, so there wasn't much more intelligence to share.
Typically, Mr. 1 to Mr. 5 are only responsible for executing truly important missions, while Mr. 6 to Mr. 18 mainly work in the weaker entrance areas of the Grand Line.
As for the sea otter and the vulture that Sanji dealt with on Little Garden, they were Mr. 13 and Miss Friday. They specialize in punishing those who fail their missions.
"There are also subordinates under the high-ranking officers: 200 'Billion-Fold' agents and 1,800 'Million-Fold' agents. This is the secret criminal organization, Baroque Works."
Vivi concluded her summary. Usopp, sitting to the side and listening carefully, began counting on his fingers. "So that means... 1,800 plus 200..."
Before Usopp could calculate the result, Chopper beside him reacted first, exclaiming in shock, "We have two thousand enemies?!"
"What? Two thousand?!"
Hearing Chopper's words, Usopp finally figured out the math.
"Why did Chopper calculate it faster than you?"
Tom stared dumbfounded at the slow Usopp, genuinely unable to understand why such simple arithmetic took him so long. Was it because his long nose affected his neural reflexes?
"Alright, I get it. We just need to punch Crocodile and send him flying, right?"
Luffy raised his fist, speaking with great confidence.
"I don't think you get it at all."
Usopp believed their opponent was a powerful Warlord of the Sea and they shouldn't confront him head-on.
"This enemy seems very adept at schemes and tricks. That kind of enemy should be found directly and beaten to a pulp, not given a chance to play games."
Tom clearly agreed with Luffy. Their numbers were small to begin with. As the saying goes, 'to catch bandits, first catch the kingpin.' It was better to just take out Crocodile directly.
"I don't like enemies who play dirty tricks from the shadows either. If Baroque Works' ultimate goal is to seize Alabasta, then what happens next is easy to predict."
Zoro glanced at Tom and spoke.
"Right. That is to say, all of Baroque Works' high-ranking officers, as well as every other member of the organization, will gather in Alabasta."
Sanji continued.
"In the coming days, we should prepare for battle. This enemy is no simple matter."
Nami checked the Log Pose. They still had several days before landing in Alabasta. If they used this time well, they could accomplish quite a bit.
Vivi nodded gravely to Luffy and the others, saying nothing more, as the others had already said everything she wanted to say.
Hearing Luffy and the others' words, Usopp and Chopper felt an intangible, heavy pressure. They both swallowed hard, and the atmosphere became somewhat tense.
That afternoon, Tom and Usopp were off to the side discussing matters.
"You know very well that this trip to Alabasta, the enemies we face won't be as easy as before."
Tom took out three aqua-blue rods and handed them to Usopp. "These are things I found in the armory last time. I want you to use them to make a weapon for Nami."
"Wouldn't using these on your fishing rod be better? Why specifically for Nami?"
Usopp took the three rods from Tom. He found that using them to enhance the power of Tom's fishing rod would be optimal. But now Tom wanted them for making a weapon for Nami, which puzzled him for a moment.
"True. Using these rods to strengthen my weapon would at least make it much easier for me to use high-powered torpedoes. But I thought it over carefully and felt it's better for Nami to use them."
Tom spoke very seriously to Usopp. "Don't be fooled by Nami's usual happy smile. Deep down, she must feel very frustrated. During fights, she can only run around in a panic, holding everyone back. No one would like that."
"You often work alone developing new things so you can fight alongside us, right? Nami has the same thoughts. Especially this time, for Vivi's sake, she'll probably really fight with her life on the line. But as she is now, she's still too weak. So I wanted you to make a powerful weapon for her, at least giving her the ability to protect herself."
Tom's words made Usopp fall into thought. He said, "But we'll reach Alabasta in just a few days. You want me to make a suitable and powerful weapon for Nami in such a short time? That's really difficult."
"Only a few days is indeed rushed. But for you, it's not impossible, right?"
As soon as Tom said this, Usopp immediately replied with great confidence, "You're right. There's nothing the great Captain Usopp can't do!"
"So you agree?"
Tom asked Usopp happily. Seeing Usopp nod, he continued, "I already have a preliminary idea about what kind of weapon to make for Nami."
"Mhm, let's hear it."
Usopp motioned for Tom to continue.
"You know Nami is used to using a staff as a weapon. And her knowledge of weather and climate is far beyond ours. Since she's good at that, I think her weapon should focus on climate control. For someone proficient in meteorology, it should be very easy to use."
As soon as Tom finished speaking, Usopp's eyes lit up. "That's a really good idea! With a clear direction, the time needed to make the weapon can be greatly shortened."
Usopp had initially felt a headache about suddenly making a weapon for Nami. But after hearing Tom's words, he immediately saw the light, and a clear conception of the weapon quickly formed in his mind.
"By the way, the materials needed to make the weapon..."
Usopp originally wanted to discuss the material costs for making Nami's weapon with Tom. Although Tom provided the three main components, other things still cost money.
But before Usopp could finish, Tom said to him, "I have one more favor to ask. After you finish making the weapon, could you also draw a detailed instruction manual? Don't be fooled by Nami always calling herself smart and beautiful. When it comes to things she doesn't understand, she can be as clueless as an idiot."
"All that is no problem."
Usopp looked dumbly at Tom. "But if she hears you saying that about her, the consequences..."
"She won't hear, so it's fine. That's all I wanted to say. Since I'm not good at tinkering and making things, I'll leave the rest to you."
Tom quickly ran off to do his own thing. By the time Usopp came to his senses, he suddenly remembered he hadn't yet discussed charging Tom for the weapon-making fees.
"That guy... he actually thought things through so carefully. He must have been thinking about it for several days."
As Usopp began preparing to make the weapon for Nami, he felt that Tom had considered every aspect regarding helping Nami, which really didn't match his usual thick-headedness. That's why he said this.
In the afternoon, while Usopp was buried in his Usopp Factory, working on Nami's weapon, Nami came looking for him.
What Usopp didn't expect was that Nami came to him with the same purpose Tom had in the morning: to ask him to help make a weapon.
"Usopp, can you make a powerful weapon for me?"
Nami said to Usopp, "I'm not a combatant. Even though I have a great figure, a wonderful body, and I'm cute..."
"What are you talking about?"
Usopp looked at Nami, dark lines appearing on his forehead.
"That's not important! I want to at least have the capability to not hold everyone back."
A trace of worry appeared on Nami's usually sunny face. Just as she was saying this, Luffy, who was bored and crawling around on the nearby floor, waved at her, pointing at Chopper, who was sleeping nearby.
It turned out Luffy, seeing Chopper sleeping soundly, took two chopsticks and stuck them in Chopper's nostrils and mouth. Chopper, fast asleep, suddenly felt his nose blocked by something and itchy. He couldn't help but let out a huge sneeze, breaking the chopsticks stuck in his nose.
Waking up and seeing Luffy squatting beside him laughing uncontrollably, Chopper immediately knew Luffy was behind it and started wrestling with him.
Soon after, both Chopper and Luffy were thrown out by a dark-faced Nami, along with several iron buckets, forcing the two troublemakers to stand outside holding the buckets as punishment.
"Usopp, you should understand, right..."
After quieting the troublemakers, seeing Usopp still hadn't stopped working, Nami didn't mind and continued, "Those guys are strong because of their monstrous bodies. Relying on their own power, they can challenge any enemy."
"Tom couldn't freely use his Devil Fruit ability at first, but he's overcome that now. You and I are ordinary people with no special abilities. When a fight breaks out, we can only run around helplessly, unable to protect our own lives, and might even hold back everyone."
As she said this, Nami clenched her hands a little tighter. "If people like us want to fight, we can only rely on powerful weapons. Right?"
"You work so hard inventing weapons so you won't become a burden to everyone, right? I'm the same! For Vivi's sake, I want to fight too!"
Nami's expression was one of firm resolve.
"There are only a few days left until we reach Alabasta..."
Usopp's words made Nami misunderstand. She thought Usopp couldn't make the weapon for her in such a short time and said very disappointedly, "I see... It's not so simple to become strong. Sorry for pushing you."
Just as Nami was about to turn and leave in disappointment, she heard Usopp say, "But I still have a way to help you."
"Do you think there's anything the great Captain Usopp can't do?"
Usopp took off his goggles, pointed at himself with his thumb, and said with great confidence, "I already started making a weapon for you earlier. I can guarantee, before we reach Alabasta..."
The sudden turn of events delighted Nami. She quickly turned back to Usopp, saying happily, "So you'll make it for me? You're the best!"
"Wait, about the material costs..."
Before Usopp could finish, Nami, with an extremely happy expression, said to him, "Thank you so much! But how did you know what I was thinking?"
Nami was very surprised that Usopp had already started making a weapon for her and couldn't help but ask.
Then Usopp very honestly told her about Tom coming to see him at noon. In his smugness, he couldn't help but start boasting again. "Don't worry! With my exquisite skills, I'll definitely make the most suitable weapon for you! I've even thought of a few brilliant ideas to make your weapon even more perfect! Just wait to be amazed!"
Before Usopp finished boasting, he found Nami had already left at some point, leaving him alone. Propping himself up on the floor, he said very resentfully, "Why are you both like this? Making weapons isn't free, you know."
Tom and Zoro had each been doing special training separately. They trained relentlessly all afternoon without rest, both now drenched in sweat but without a trace of fatigue on their faces, looking very spirited.
"What's up with them?"
Zoro, seeing Luffy and Chopper each with an iron bucket on their heads and holding one in each hand, standing motionless like posts, asked Tom not far away.
"Who knows. But they sure are carefree... a bunch of guys with no sense of tension."
Tom felt the weirdest ones on the ship were Luffy, followed by Sanji. He and Zoro often trained desperately, but those two usually didn't seem to do much special training, especially Luffy, who was either fooling around or causing trouble, yet his strength only increased. He was truly an anomaly.
One could say the hardest workers on the ship were Tom and Zoro, and the laziest were Luffy and Sanji.
"Agreed. Forget them. Let's continue."
Zoro glanced at Luffy and the others still acting as posts, then said to Tom before picking up his heavy dumbbells and walking off to train.
Not long after, Nami came out with a happy smile and said to Luffy and Chopper, who were still standing as posts for punishment, "You're done. Dismissed!"
The motionless Luffy and Chopper, hearing Nami's words, looked at each other and then happily ran off to play elsewhere.
Nami originally wanted to talk to Tom, but seeing him so focused, she ultimately didn't disturb him, just watched quietly.
"Twelve thousand, nine hundred, and sixty-two!"
Tom supported himself on the ground with just his left hand, fingers together, doing handstand push-ups. With each rep, he jumped forward a bit while inverted.
Just keep training like this until we reach Alabasta! I have to get stronger!
No matter if the enemy is a Warlord of the Sea or whatever, just bring it on! I won't lose to them!
Tom concentrated on his special training. He didn't know how much time had passed before dusk arrived. He didn't know that as the sun set in the west, an orange-haired girl stood in the fading light, gazing intently at his silhouette for a good while before turning to leave.
"Mhm, of all the paintings I did today, I'm most satisfied with this one."
Miss Goldenweek, putting away her easel, glanced at the setting sun. In the painting she hadn't yet put away, a man with a determined expression was relentlessly undergoing strenuous training. Behind him, a girl had just turned away, her delicate and beautiful face wearing a warm, happy smile...
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T/N :
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